I spent most of my childhood at this reserve; playing tennis, cricket and rugby so I always get a…read morebit nostalgic when I drive past the place. If you are looking for a place to practice any of the above sports, then this is a great place in the Karaka area. There are many tennis courts which are all in good shape, although I think you might need a key if you want to use them. The rugby field and cricket nets, however, are open to anyone. It's a nice place if you want to practice or just have a muck around with your mates. When the clubhouse is open they have food and drinks available, but this is usually only when something is on (particularly on weekends).

Bruce Pulman is over 60 hectares of green grass and sports and recreation facilities. Its home to…read moremany sports teams and is in full swing during the netball and rugby seasons. It's also a wonderful local spot for those who like keep fit and active. Its great for a leisurely walk or a long run; a little more scenic and serene than road running. You won't feel like you're running around the block and there's a lot of open space to cover. There's also barely any traffic noise and away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets and jaywalkers. You could even throw the ball around a have a game of touch rugby here with some friends as there is ample space. If your mates are a bit more serious, the fields are available for hire in the evenings which includes extra gear, lights and so on. Bruce Pulman is also home the Gymsport Complex, which offers a range of classes from beginner levels and holiday programmes to competitive and advanced gymnasts. It's hosted many national and international competitions so its safe to say the facilities are top of the line; great to keep in mind if you've got children or you yourself are interested in having a go! Bruce Pulman is a great facility for many athletes, exercise lovers and people that just want to stay active and appreciate the great facilities we've got here.

The Massy Park Aquatic Centre is always packed. It's home to the SwimMagic swim school which has…read moreclasses for toddlers through to adults and pregnant mums; they have an after school and holiday programme; and this place attracts families every weekend. They've got neat little pools for younger kids and some very cool water features and a mini playground in the area. There's hydroslide and bigger indoor pool for the older pre-teen crowd, while the big outdoor pool is great for lazing about and doing a few laps. The steam room and sauna are also available at a small cost. While I'm not much of a swimmer, I'm a fan of their big outdoor pool- its a little less packed than it can get inside and there's easy access to the cafe if you get peckish. The changing rooms here are quite spacious and I can safely say from experience that you won't find many shy people here- but there are cubicles if you aren't feeling too bold on the day!

Totara Park is a South Auckland staple. Its highly likely that growing up in the Manurewa/Manukau…read morearea meant you were here for swimming lessons, a day out with family or school, or a hangout with friends. Its ideal for family picnics, barbecues (they have facilities available) and get-togethers. The children's playground keeps the younger ones, and the young at heart, entertained. The free supervised swimming pools are open in February and March, and are perfect for that relaxing swim on a scorching day. As a teenager, my dad dragged my siblings and I here every morning of the school holidays for the 45 minute bush walk, and while I barely liked it back then, I'm grateful. These days, that bush walk, among the other trails you can take at Totara Park, are somewhat of a blessing (apart from the killer stairs!). The farm track from the Redoubt Rd entrance to the main picnic area on Wairere Road is a popular one, just be sure not to run past the cows as they can get pretty scary (for me at least). Another track, the Puhinui Stream Forest Trail, takes about two hours to complete and connects Totara Park with the nearby Botanic Gardens.

My daughter has been attending TriStar Gymnastics since Term 3 of last year. Helpfully they offered…read morea "try before you buy" session for free which is exactly what you need for these kinds of post school activities - there's nothing worse than committing to a whole term of something that just isn't what you thought it would be. There's really only a choice of two big gymnastics clubs in the central Auckland area and TriStar is based out of a massive purpose-built gymnasium next to Cameron Pool in Mt Roskill. Strangely enough there's not a lot of signage so if you see the big building with the red windows, you are in the right place. Once we decided to go ahead and join, there was an Enrolment Form to fill out and obviously fees to pay. My daughter is in the Incentive class which costs $155 per term (or $140 with prompt payment discount) for a one hour class each week. There's a huge range of classes on offer for every age group and when we were in the investigation stages, the information on the website, while comprehensive, was a bit confusing. I suggest a phone call for clarification as to which class is most suitable and to let them know when you'll be visiting. Also you won't find the fees on the site until you open the Enrolment Form. Our experience here has been great with the teachers being immediately welcoming and putting my daughter at ease (particularly the exotically monikered Flaminio!). There have been a few hiccups with the accounting side of things but I suppose this is to be expected given the number of people who attend the club. There is a small waiting area for parents with a window so you can watch your kids if you want to. The only real beef I have is that communication is not great but again, this is a function of the fact that there is only an hour and therefore it makes sense not to waste time chit chatting to the parents. I don't think parents are actively discouraged from being inside the gym but I would suggest rather than bothering your child's instructor who has a class to teach, take any questions you might have to the front desk as there is usually someone there who can help you. We are at the point now where my daughter is ready for the next level but this has not been addressed by her teachers so we'll bring it up with them and see where we go from here.... overall I think choosing between this club and the YMCA gymnastics programme comes down to what is most convenient for you and your family. I actually took my children to the YMCA's pre-school programme when they were little and that was a very positive experience so go with what works for you.

This was a nice place to hang out while we waited for our flight. The kids did 2 rounds of golf…read morewhile the parents waited at the picnic tables. The kids had fun and we got Maccas on the way back to the airport. Perfect little walk to and from too. A little exercise before a long flight.

Adventure Mini Golf is my local and over the years I've probably tallied up quite a few rounds…read morehere. I'm from a family with a few younger cousins so I enjoy taking them out to places like this where kids an adults can share in the fun. You can pick from two courses; the Captain's Course or Blackbeard's Course. If you're not with a big group or you're just very patient, its cheaper to play 36 holes and makes for healthy competition between friends! I really like the way they've set up the course, its very animated, interactive and a real sight to see, even if you're just driving past. It can be especially tough to play when its windy out, so I'd suggest checking the weather just in case. All in all though, its a great spot to incorporate into a family day and I'd highly recommend it for anyone keen to have little fun and competition.

Until high-school I'd never really had much to do with Craigavon Park. Located on the outskirts of…read moreBlockhouse Bay it's a little further west than I'd ever had reason to venture, but throughout my high-school years cross country runs, fun-runs and various other fundraisers were held at this park. Home to a pretty decent playground, BBQs, a scenic walk and even a skate park - Craigavon Park has activities and events that cater to the whole family. Pack a picnic, the Frisbee, backyard cricket set and your dog - and enjoy the day at one of west Auckland's most popular parks. Bonus: Craigavon Park played host to the Hippie festival late last year. It was such a great day. Travelling painted vans, palm readings, eclectic knick-knacks, decorated lightbulbs, handcrafted wooden toys, and delicious food - the festival was absolutely brilliant and if it ever comes back to Craigavon Park, make sure you don't miss it!

Huge area to take kids for a play, Has alot of land and most…read moreof it has a path. Can get abit muddy in places but still avoidable. Has a duck pond for tots and a playground for primary kids and forts for older kids.

Sir Barry Curtis Park in Flatbush was opened in 2009. Today was our first visit. The walkways are…read moreextensive but many of them come to a sudden dead-end. Random hills with no paths. And extremely muddy after rain (today we got mud splashed to above our knees!). As it is a new park, there is a lack of mature trees. It appears that a great deal of ratepayers money has been spent on this park, and apart from the children's playground and skateboard park, there is nothing to attract walkers. We would have liked to have seen gardens and a cafe for starters. And an off leash dog exercise area. However it looks as though is a fun place for children to ride bikes and scooters.